Jamaine Punzalan

Security officers from the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety check the bags of students using metal detectors at Manuel A. Roxas High School in Quezon City on February 1, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

SCHOOL SECURITY

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178236988367420230201-manuel-roxas-school-security-MD-13.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Security officers from the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety check the bags of students using metal detectors at Manuel A. Roxas High School in Quezon City on February 1, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Education said Thursday it was auditing school security measures following the<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/24/tacloban-school-shooters-had-target-police-1256"> shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City</a> that killed three students and injured 20 others.</p><p>Department of Education Undersecretary for Operations Malcolm Garma said the agency was conducting an inventory of security guards, CCTV cameras, and metal detectors in schools to identify security gaps and help prevent similar incidents.</p><p>“Malaman namin ilan na ba ang mga schools na merong regular na provision ng security guards manning the gates or roving around. Ang CCTVs natin tinitignan namin, ilang school ba ang meron na at may kakayanan o walang kakayanan maglagay ng CCTV. At ngayon tinitignan rin namin kung ilang schools na ba merong provision for metal detectors,” Garma said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/24/qc-heightens-school-security-protocols-after-tacloban-school-shooting-1019">QC heightens school security protocols after Tacloban school shooting </a></div><p>DepEd also reissued Department Order No. 6, which requires schools to improve campus security measures, regulate access to school premises, conduct non-contact inspections at entrances, prohibit deadly weapons and other banned items on campus, and coordinate with local authorities to maintain a safe learning environment and prevent copycat attacks. </p><p>Garma said the agency immediately dispatched a team to Tacloban City to assess the situation and provide financial assistance to hospitalized victims.</p><p>He said the department is also prioritizing psychosocial interventions for injured students, teachers who witnessed the attack and other learners affected by the incident.</p><p>Garma said they would deploy guidance counselor associates to provide more students with counseling and early intervention services that could help prevent school violence.</p><p>“We will be hiring <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/26/15-000-school-counselor-associates-to-be-hired-before-end-of-2026-2226">guidance counselor associates</a> who will be performing the same function as guidance counselor. So kasi po ang nakita namin, importante ko na merong nakakausap yung ating mga mag-aaral at na ilalabas yung kanilang sa loobin. At ito po yung isa sa magiging tutok nitong ating mga guidance counselors or even teachers who are trained to provide counseling,” he said.</p><p>Classes at San Jose National High School remain suspended following the shooting. </p><p>Garma said the school could temporarily adopt alternative learning modalities, but emphasized that students&#x27; recovery and well-being should come before the resumption of regular classes.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/24/what-to-do-in-case-of-mass-shooting-pnp-releases-safety-guide-1407">What to do in case of mass shooting: PNP releases safety guide </a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>INTERVENTION FOR MINOR SUSPECTS </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council Executive Director Atty. Tricia Claire Oco said the two minor suspects in the Tacloban shooting would undergo separate legal processes based on their ages under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.</p><p>Oco said the 15-year-old suspect would first undergo a preliminary investigation to determine whether criminal charges should be filed. A child aged 15 years and one day to below 18 may be held criminally liable if prosecutors establish that the child acted with discernment.</p><p>“Ang ginagawa doon sa above 15 (years old) ay preliminary investigation para makakalap ng sapat na ebidensya ang prosec kung siya ay kakasuhan o hindi. Kung sakaling enough yung evidence natin na siya ay dapat kasuhan… ia-identify niya (prosecutor) kung ano yung mga kaso na pwede ko i-file sa batang ito dahil doon sa nangyari,” Oco said. </p><p>“Pag ikaw ay 15 yrs old plus 1 at nagkasala ka, titignan nila ngayon kung meron kang discernment. Ibig sabihin, alam mo ba yung tama at mali at alam mo ba ang consequences,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/dilg-wants-stronger-gun-law-permanent-gorebox-ban-1214">DILG wants stronger gun law, permanent GoreBox ban after fatal Tacloban school shooting </a></div><p>Oco said that if the 15-year-old is found guilty, the court could also suspend the execution of the sentence and place the child in a rehabilitation center. The case may later be dismissed if rehabilitation is successful. </p><p>Otherwise, if rehabilitation is unsuccessful by the time the child turns 18, the court may order the sentence to be served, Oco said. </p><p>However, she said the 14-year-old suspect cannot be criminally prosecuted because children aged 15 and below are exempt from criminal liability. </p><p>Oco said the court could order the child&#x27;s involuntary commitment to a rehabilitation facility for an intervention program lasting at least one year if found to have been involved in a serious offense.</p><p>“Habang andon siya… imo-monitor siya ngayon ng court doon sa progress niya sa rehabilitation program niya… regularly pupunta ang social worker sa korte para ibigay ang progress ng bata,” she said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/6/24/do-video-games-cause-violence-tacloban-shooting-triggers-debate-1743">Do video games cause violence? Tacloban shooting triggers debate </a></div><p>Oco said criminalizing children at an early age could worsen delinquent behavior.</p><p>“Tawag natin dyan snowballing effect. Pag criniminalize natin ang bata sa mas maagang edad, usually, hindi siya nagre-rehabilitate, kundi paulit-ulit niya itong gawin dahil nile-label niya ang sarili niya na criminal,” Oco said.</p><p>She added that rehabilitation should involve the entire family to help address the underlying causes of a child&#x27;s behavior. If the child cannot safely return home, the child will be prepared for independent living before reintegration into society.</p><p>If you know someone battling with depression or suicidal thoughts, contact the NCMH Crisis Hotline on landline (1553), or through mobile numbers 0917-899-8727 and 0919-057-1553.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/6/24/do-video-games-cause-violence-tacloban-shooting-triggers-debate-1743">Do video games cause violence? Tacloban shooting triggers debate </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/akbayan-seeks-house-probe-into-tacloban-school-shooting-1236">Akbayan seeks House probe into Tacloban school shooting </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/24/possible-influence-of-shootings-abroad-among-leads-in-tacloban-incident-2020">Possible influence of shootings abroad among leads in Tacloban incident </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A7mef-XrD50?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Education said Thursday it was auditing school security measures following the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured 20 others.</p>

The Department of Education said Thursday it was auditing school security measures following the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured 20 others.

DepEd audits school security measures after Tacloban shooting

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DepEd audits school security measures after Tacloban shooting

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 25, 2026 02:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Tacloban shooting

intervention

gunfire

shooting

school shooting

gun violence

school violence

crime

minors

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